Oregon Basketball Starts Pac-12 Conference Play in the Mountains vs Utah

Dec 10, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) shoots during the second half against the Idaho State Bengals at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won 74-66. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Basketball is off to one of their best starts in quite a while. At 12-0 and Ranked 10th in the Associated Press poll. The Ducks start the Pac-12 season with four of the next five away from the friendly confines of Matthew Knight Arena. Dana Altman has said that Oregon’s Defense is not quite where it needs to be at this point in the season and they will face a tough test this week starting Thursday in travelling to face the 11-1 Utes in Salt Lake City.

Utah is led by Sophomore Jordan Loveridge who is averaging 18 points per game. As a team the Utes are averaging just over 87 points per game with the Ducks just ahead with 90 points per contest. One area that has not plagued the Ducks is Defensive rebounding with the responsibility turning into a team effort, where last season it fell to rebounding machine Arsalan Kazemi. The folks in Salt Lake City would love nothing more than to see an upset as the team is off to its best start in 15 years. There is one player who has been the key for the Ducks this season.

Transfer Joseph Young has been on fire. He is averaging over 20 points per game this season and has scored in double figures in every game during non conference play. The Ducks will certainly need that type of production throughout the Pac-12 season from Young and from other players willing to step up. The Ducks may be 12-0 and undefeated, but the team has work to do to maintain the elite level where they are right now. If they can get through not only Utah, but Colorado on Saturday with wins some National Recognition may start to fall their way.

Oregon and Utah tip off on Thursday night(8pm PT, Pac 12 Networks).

Oregon Ducks This Week: